Flux Lighting — A Lighting Agency with an Emphasis on Education
November 8, 2016
Flux Lighting Inc., an agency located in Ottawa that services Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, specializing in lighting for industrial and commercial spaces. Flux was founded in 2002 by partners Dan Emond and Jeff Fitch, who both have extensive experience in the lighting industry. Since its inception, the team at FLUX has grown to include a third partner, Mara Klammrodt.
LDS had the chance to tour the newly renovated Flux Lighting office in Ottawa last month. The space is equipped with leading-edge products and presents a very modern and innovative feel. Walking through the office, it was clear that every detail was well thought out and the installation of the latest in lighting technology allow the space to double as a showroom for potential clients.
What really made this office stand out was the studio area, which takes up approximately 25% of their entire footprint. The intention of this area is demonstrative; working as a place to not only show clients the effects of light on site, but also to educate students and industry professionals on new products and various lighting techniques.
Flux has partnered with educational institutions such as Carlton University and Algonquin College, bringing architecture and interior design students to their studio to discuss and demonstrate various light effects, including grazing a wall with a narrow beam to pull out the shadow versus wall washing or scalloping using down lights.
Dan Emond, Partner at Flux, noted colour temperature change as one of the major trends students of design are focusing on: “Students are studying what type of lights makes you awake, what make you sleepy,” all in an effort to understand how to align lighting with your circadian rhythm and increase productivity, especially in office buildings.
Flux values education greatly, given how quickly the industry moves. Mara Klammrodt comments, “We need to educate people and get them on board relatively quickly before it changes again… and in order to teach you need the right tools. That’s what this studio offers.”
Some of the schools the firm works with don’t have all the proper control systems to demonstrate the wide range of lighting effects — leaving them in the position of “describing sunshine but never feeling it,” as Mara puts it. The studio can help to bridge that gap between teaching and first-hand experience.
To date, the firm has had classes from both Carlton and Algonquin college in for trainings and demonstrations, with more scheduled for this fall.
Looking forward, they hope to use the space for webinars for industry professionals and clients as well as students.
Keep an eye out for a profile of Mara Klammrodt in an upcoming issue of LDS.
